Berenice Griffith: The climate know-it-alls

I am so tired of the absolute certainty that global warmers use (see all the letters protesting the March 4 Commentary piece “Global warming poses little threat”).

I am so tired of the absolute certainty that global warmers use (see all the letters protesting the March 4 Commentary piece “Global warming poses little threat”).

One writer asserts it is a “remarkably fatuous assertion” that we cannot predict the future accurately with a computer model. Well, The Washington Post says (“Scientist Use of Computer Models Under Attack”): ”But these models still have the same caveat as other computer-generated futures. They are man-made, so their results are shaped by human judgment.”

The percent of the atmosphere made out of carbon dioxide is 0.038. Of that figure, from what I understand, man is responsible for less than 5 percent. CO2 concentrations have been dramatically higher than they are today, including during ice ages.

I’ve read some interesting things about the sun’s influence on our climate. Russian scientists have predicted a period of extended global cooling because of solar activity. The tilt of the Earth’s axis can also affect climate. Neither of these has anything to do with man.

Do I believe we need to prevent pollution and be better caretakers of our world? Yes! But can we — please! — keep politics out of the discussion? And the certainty, which is the opposite of science?

According to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), climate change is the greatest threat to us. Really? Given all the things Rhode Island is ranked worst at, I don’t think we need to add another tax, which is where this is all going.

Instead of messing with taxes on marijuana and carbons, can we please do something to really help this state?